I spend way too much time on Pinterest. Seriously. I love all of the wedding stuff, the craft stuff, the food and drink stuff... but it seems like sometimes it sounds awesome, until you try it (microwave protein powder cookies, anyone?), and it ends up terrible (like a piece of rubber). I was worried that this cake batter protein shake recipe from Dashing Dish would be one of them. I mean really, COTTAGE CHEESE?! In my SMOOTHIE?!
I decided to try it anyway. I usually have a protein shake for breakfast because my tummy doesn't tolerate breakfast very well, but I have to eat something, and it to be QUICK AND EASY. As in, takes fewer than five minutes to make. This fit the bill, so I put my trepidation about cottage cheese aside and tried it. AND IT WAS THE BEST PROTEIN SHAKE I'VE EVER HAD.
I decided to try it anyway. I usually have a protein shake for breakfast because my tummy doesn't tolerate breakfast very well, but I have to eat something, and it to be QUICK AND EASY. As in, takes fewer than five minutes to make. This fit the bill, so I put my trepidation about cottage cheese aside and tried it. AND IT WAS THE BEST PROTEIN SHAKE I'VE EVER HAD.
Everything's better with sprinkles. Just ask any three year old.
Cake Batter Protein Shake (from Dashing Dish)
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Low fat cottage cheese (I use non-fat, 80 calories, 14g protein)
- 1 Scoop vanilla protein powder (I use Genisoy Natural Unsweetened, 1 tbsp, 37 cal, 8g protein)
- 3-5 Drops butter or almond extract (I use butter extract, a generous splash)
- 1 tbs Vanilla sugar free instant pudding mix OR 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and 1/2 tsp sugar free instant pudding mix OR 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I use pudding mix only, 25 calories)
- 3-5 Stevia packets (or sweetener of choice to taste) (I use NuStevia or Splenda, 0 calories)
- 1/2 cup-1cup Water (Alter this according to desired consistency) (I need 1 cup for my Magic Bullet to blend)
- 5-10 Ice Cubes (Depending on how thick you like it, use less for a thinner consistency) (I use about 5-7, because my Magic Bullet isn't great with ice).
- Optional:1/2 tsp xanthan gum (I skipped this)
- Sprinkles for topping!
It's amazing. It really does taste like cake batter, the texture is so smooth and rich, and my version only has 142 calories and 22 grams of protein! You could have that as a SNACK it's so low cal, although I had mine for a late lunch and it was actually filling enough that I'll probably be okay til dinner. It's a good sized smoothie! Even though I was full, I was really tempted to make myself another one, it was that good. My protein powder isn't the most delicious (it's plain, and high protein and low cal) so it gave the shake the slightest chalky taste, but it always does.
My tummy and lactose aren't exactly friends, but since cottage cheese is lower in lactose than many other dairy products (3g/half cup), I was able to tolerate it fairly well. I have trouble with milk (11g lactose/cup), yogurt (5g/cup), or ice cream (6g/half cup)--even when I take the chewable things before hand. So if you're mildly lactose intolerant like myself, this may still be a viable option. But if you want to be on the safe side, there's now lactose-free low fat cottage cheese from Lactaid (80 calories, 12g protein per half cup)! If you can find it, that is. My local New Seasons does have it.
Hope you find this as delicious as I do! There are tons of variations listed on the Dashing Dish website, and I've tried many of them. They're all very delicious.
Do you have any awesomely healthy and low-cal Pinterest finds?
